Coding Puzzle: Decoding BAYWATCH to EFRON

Pattern Identification

The question presents a coding pattern where the word BAYWATCH is transformed into ZYWUYRAF. To find the code for EFRON, we first need to identify the relationship between the letters of BAYWATCH and ZYWUYRAF.

Let's map the letters and their corresponding positions in the English alphabet (A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26):

• B (2) corresponds to Z (26)
• A (1) corresponds to Y (25)
• Y (25) corresponds to W (23)
• W (23) corresponds to U (21)
• A (1) corresponds to Y (25)
• T (20) corresponds to R (18)
• C (3) corresponds to A (1)
• H (8) corresponds to F (6)

By comparing the positions, we observe a consistent pattern: each letter in BAYWATCH is replaced by the letter that comes 2 positions before it in the alphabet. We can represent this mathematically for a letter with position '$p$' as '$p - 2$'. For positions resulting in a number less than 1, we wrap around the alphabet (e.g., 1 - 2 = -1, which corresponds to Y (25); 2 - 2 = 0, which corresponds to Z (26)).

• B (2) $\rightarrow$ 2 - 2 = 0 $\rightarrow$ Z (26)
• A (1) $\rightarrow$ 1 - 2 = -1 $\rightarrow$ Y (25)
• Y (25) $\rightarrow$ 25 - 2 = 23 $\rightarrow$ W
• W (23) $\rightarrow$ 23 - 2 = 21 $\rightarrow$ U
• A (1) $\rightarrow$ 1 - 2 = -1 $\rightarrow$ Y
• T (20) $\rightarrow$ 20 - 2 = 18 $\rightarrow$ R
• C (3) $\rightarrow$ 3 - 2 = 1 $\rightarrow$ A
• H (8) $\rightarrow$ 8 - 2 = 6 $\rightarrow$ F

The pattern holds true for all letters.

Applying the Code to EFRON

Now, we apply the same '-2' pattern to the word EFRON:

• E (5) $\rightarrow$ 5 - 2 = 3 $\rightarrow$ C
• F (6) $\rightarrow$ 6 - 2 = 4 $\rightarrow$ D
• R (18) $\rightarrow$ 18 - 2 = 16 $\rightarrow$ P
• O (15) $\rightarrow$ 15 - 2 = 13 $\rightarrow$ M
• N (14) $\rightarrow$ 14 - 2 = 12 $\rightarrow$ L

Therefore, EFRON is coded as CDPML.